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---
title: Donald Trump TIME Magazine Person of the Year Poll
description: 'Even if I deserve it, they can't do it'
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author: Sam Frizell
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article:published_time: 2015-11-23T17:16:09.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:40:07.188Z
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1a47c4a07ee3aa01/6988725d0b72e369e46e6f3c/trump-rally-alabama.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Donald Trump Challenges TIME to Make Him Person of the Year

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## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

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### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
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### FAQ

#### What is TIME's politics newsletter?

D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week.

#### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email?

D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time.

#### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief?

Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief.

#### Is D.C. Brief free?

Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.

### Sources

*   TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=812ab2eb-d39a-4875-8377-232da5619566&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1)

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8RqPb29m.m3u8" -->
## Video: Person of the Year 2015: Cast Your Vote

[Watch (HLS stream): Person of the Year 2015: Cast Your Vote](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8RqPb29m.m3u8) (1:28)

![Person of the Year 2015: Cast Your Vote](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/8RqPb29m/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2015-11-15. Person of the Year 2015: Cast Your Vote_


by 

[Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/)


## Sam Frizell


Nov 23, 2015 5:16 PM UTC

by 

[Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/)


## Sam Frizell


Nov 23, 2015 5:16 PM UTC

[_Cast your vote here._](http://time.com/4108617/person-of-the-year-poll-2015/)

With eleven days left to go before TIME’s 2015 [Person of the Year poll](http://time.com/4110428/person-of-the-year-readers-poll-results-2015/) come to a close, Donald Trump is currently trailing Bernie Sanders and nine other figures in the annual reader poll but that hasn’t stopped the Republican presidential candidate from speculating that he will receive the recognition in December.

“We have somebody from TIME magazine here,” the billionaire real estate mogul told a crowd of supporters in Birmingham, Alabama Saturday. “You know I was on the cover recently. Now they’re here again, so I assume they’re considering me for man of the year. I say there’s no way they give it to me. They can’t. Because, mentally, they can’t. They just can’t. They can’t do it. Even if I deserve it, they can’t do it.”

Trump also trails Pope Francis and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, as well as entertainers like Adele (2%) and Jennifer Lawrence (1.7%) in the Person of the Year poll.

Trump currently leads the Republican presidential field in national polling as well as polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, the key early voting states.

TIME’s editors will choose the Person of the Year, the person TIME believes most influenced the news this year for better or worse, but that doesn’t mean readers shouldn’t have their say. [Cast your vote here.](http://time.com/4108617/person-of-the-year-poll-2015/)


## Transcript

[ MUSIC ] Headlines sketch our 12 month journey from January to December. They tell us where we've been and what we've experienced. But it's the people behind them that shape our year. It's those who in a [ UNKNOWN ] And music is such an important part of our lives and our culture. Those entertain and inspire, those who spark Fires and brick ceilings. Preventing violence and support those who are coming home helps us all. Those who lead nations and those who lead victories. It's those Who push for acceptance and it's those who push for a better future. [ SOUND ] Our government- Those who challenge.

Russel likes to get things done. Those who fight, and those who race full speed to the finish line. For better [ MUSIC ] or for worse. It's those people who's actions define our time. Who do you think should be the person of the year? [ MUSIC ]

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